MCGRIFF, PADRES AGREE ON BIG-BUCKS CONTRACT

McGriff and the San Diego Padres agreed Wednesday night to a $15.25 million, four-year contract that makes him the fifth-highest paid player in baseball.Wilson, a free agent outfielder who hadn't attracted a great deal of interest, got a one-year contract with the Atlanta Braves, while the 43-year-old Boone was invited to go to spring training with the Seattle Mariners.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles right-hander Tim Belcher lost his arbitration hearing on Wednesday and will double his salary from $450,000 to $900,000. Arbitrator Reg Alleyne rejected Belcher's request for $1.35 million.

And outfielder Luis Polonia and California settled at $770,000, a raise of $550,000.

McGriff made $1.45 million last season with the Toronto Blue Jays, who traded him to San Diego at the winter meetings with Tony Fernandez for Joe Carter and Roberto Alomar.

McGriff batted .300 last year with 35 homers and 88 RBIs. He was eighth in the American League in batting and fourth in home runs.

Under the new deal, he will get a $1 million signing bonus, $2.5 million in 1991, $3.5 million in 1992, $4 million in 1993 and $3.75 million in 1994. The Padres have a $4.25 million option for 1995 with a $500,000 buyout.

McGriff becomes the 37th player to agree to a contract worth $3 million a year or more. The annual average value of $3,812,500 is the fifth-highest in baseball, trailing only Oakland outfielder Jose Canseco, Los Angeles outfielder Darryl Strawberry, New York Yankees first baseman Don Mattingly and the extension Boston right-hander Roger Clemens will begin in 1992.

Wilson, 32, hit .245 with 10 home runs and 55 RBIs in 118 games with the Houston Astros last year. He has a .265 average during eight seasons with 98 homers and 521 RBIs.

Atlanta guaranteed Wilson $150,000 for going to spring training and will give him a $500,000 contract if he makes the team. Wilson could make as much as $750,000 if he stays with the Braves for the entire season.

Boone, a career .254 hitter with 105 home runs and 826 RBIs in 2,264 games, is an 18-year veteran who played with Philadelphia, California and Kansas City. He could form the second father-son pair on the team, joining the Ken Griffeys.

Boone's 21-year-old son Bret was the Mariners' fifth-round pick in last June's amateur draft. Bret Boone will be at the Mariners' minor league camp, which opens March 10.

Bob Boone played in 40 games last year with Kansas City, batting .239 with no homers and nine RBIs. He broke and dislocated his right index finger on May 16 and was placed on the disabled list. He didn't play again until July 21.

He has appeared in four All-Star games, the 1980 World Series with Philadelphia and is a seven-time Gold Glove winner.

Belcher, 29, was 9-9 with a 4.00 ERA last season. He didn't pitch after Aug. 16 because of a sore right shoulder and had arthroscopic surgery Sept. 11 to remove torn cartilage in the shoulder.

Owners have won four of seven arbitration cases. Right-hander Doug Drabek and Pittsburgh argued their case Wednesday before arbitrator Raymond Goetz. Pittsburgh outfielder Bobby Bonilla and Toronto right-hander Willie Fraser are scheduled for hearings on today.

Polonia, 26, was traded to the Angels by the New York Yankees April 29 for outfielder Claudell Washington and pitcher Rich Monteleone. Polonia played 120 games last season, all but 11 with the Angels, and hit .335 with two home runs, 35 RBIs and 21 stolen bases.